There have been many days where my roommate has made the observation that I love a lot of things, and a lot of people. This usually comes after I have exclaimed “aww, I LOVE _____________ (insert my favourite object, or the name of a person I just got off the phone with, anyone who lent me their favourite book, any thing that made me smile)
The truth is, maybe I should say “I’m incredibly grateful for ________ (said person or thing).” But sometimes I can be overly dramatic and the word LOVE pops out.
If you’re reading this and know me, there’s a good chance that I’ve said “man, I LOVE ________ (you)” but really, there is no need to worry that I have confessed my undying love for you to my roommate…it’s stricly a plutonic love, but it’s possible that I’ve strayed from the ‘tolerate’ category to the ‘love’ category with no stopping in between. You should not feel a necessary burden to start doing things for me to retain this love and appreciation, although I DO love a good vanilla rooibois tea from Starbucks, as well as someone picking me up to go to see some jazz in Toronto or letting me join in on a game of Settlers (thanks Paul and Kristin), or something so simple as making me laugh.
The real truth is, I am the luckiest person on earth because I have some pretty amazing friends and family and yesterday I connected with someone who sadly didn’t have the same type of quality people and it showed. Going through ridiculous sickness and knowing you have people that will support and encourage and love you in return is a remedy that can’t be matched, I think. Some days I take this for granted, but after my interaction with this person yesterday–realizing that she didn’t have any family to support them through their sickness, no real friends to turn to when she had some very real needs–it made me sad for her, but also made me incredibly aware of the treasure that I have. I feel so rich. It’s easy to love the people in my life.
This morning, I was reading through Matthew. Jesus calls Christians to a higher standard than just loving the people that don’t take much work to love.
Matthew 5:43-48 (The Message)
You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
I love how the Message version translates the last verse– I wonder if it was similar phrasing to what Jesus said on that hill when teaching his ‘climbing companions’. Grow up. Be generous and gracious.
Love the people I don’t really like. There’s somewhat of a tug of war that sometimes goes on in my mind when confronted with the decision of what to do when said ‘enemy’ is in my space. I truly want to love them, without gritting my teeth but my initial reaction is to be extremely sarcastic or say something that would cut them down. Yikes –It’s a good time to echo Davids prayer in Ps 141 – ‘Post a guard at my mouth, God. Set a watch at the door of my lips!’
Jesus knew it wouldn’t be easy. But he still taught his followers that it was necessary to not do the first thing that comes to mind when talking to someone we really dislike. OK, He wouldn’t ask us to do something that was impossible right?
There is an 8×11″ paper on my fridge that is half full of red markered hearts and the other half is filled with alternating “I love you, I like you”
No, it isn’t a love letter from a fickle male admirerwho couldn’t make his mind up about how he really felt toward me! Instead, it’s from a little girl that would give me ‘gifts’ every once in awhile–an original short story, a crayon portrait of her family, a big smile that boasted a few donations to the toothfairy…and my favourite–the ‘I love you, I like you’ creation. It makes me smile every time I look at it–a good reminder of the heartfelt words that should be coming out of my mouth. I love you, I like you, I love you. How ’bout them apples? 
